McDowell prepares for first major assault on US Tour

GRAEME McDOWELL is travelling across the Pacific Ocean to California for a first serious assault on the US Tour.

The Portrush golfer will contest four events over the next five weeks, starting with Thursday’s AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am in California.

McDowell left Melbourne this morning after carding a final round one over par 72 in the co-sanctioned Heineken Classic. He ended the event in a share of 21st place and behind Australia’s Craig Parry, who defeated compatriot Nick O’Hern at the fourth extra play-off hole on the Royal Melbourne course to win the title.

Both players finished tied on 14-under par and one stroke clear of Yorkshire’s Simon Dyson and 23-year-old rookie Australian pro Jarrod Lyle.

Ernie Els let slip the opportunity of a fourth straight victory toast when he could only manage one birdie over the inward nine and then bogeyed the last in a round of 70 to end in fifth spot on 12-under par.

McDowell’s last round included four birdies but five bogeys, including dropped shots at 16 and the last.

“My putter was that user-friendly today and I just struggled with the pace of the greens,” he said. “I have worked hard on my golf swing since Friday afternoon as I don’t feel I am swinging the club all that well.

“But then my decision to compete in Singapore and Melbourne was all about getting my confidence up before I head to the States and there is no doubt I have managed to achieve that.

“So I am looking forward to getting to America as I have three exciting events in succession coming up.”

Aside from the AT&T Pro-Am, McDowell has invites into the following week’s Nissan Open and also the March 10 start of the Honda Classic at Palm Beach Gardens in Florida. McDowell is no stranger to the US Tour but this is the first time he will have had so many events in succession.